Douglas Scherr, M.D.

Urologic oncology is a multidisciplinary field that incorporates innovative surgical technology, systemic treatments such as chemotherapy, as well as a focused research effort.  As a Professor of Urology and the Clinical Director of Urologic Oncology, I continually interact with colleagues in the areas of medical oncology, radiation oncology, and pathology, among others, in order to provide the most comprehensive and innovative care for our patients with prostate, bladder, kidney and testicular cancer. Advances in robotic technology, along with scientific progress in our precision medicine program, have allowed us to direct therapy in unprecedented ways. As a leader in this area, I look forward to continued advances in this exciting and challenging field.

Dr. Douglas Scherr is a Professor of Urology and the Clinical Director of Urologic Oncology at the Weill Cornell Medicine.

Dr. Scherr received his undergraduate degree in Government at Cornell University. After a year teaching English in Shenyang, China, Dr. Scherr completed his medical training at The George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. Following this, he completed a 6 year residency in Urology at The New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center. Subsequently, Dr. Scherr went on to pursue a Fellowship in Urologic Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York for two years. Beginning in 2001, Dr. Scherr has been on the full time faculty in the Department of Urology at Cornell where he has his current appointment. Dr. Scherr also holds an appointment at the Rockefeller University in New York.

Dr. Scherr’s clinical focus is the treatment of urologic malignancies -- in particular, the treatment of prostate cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, and testicular cancers, as well as genitourinary and retroperitoneal sarcomas. Dr. Scherr was the first physician at Weill Cornell to perform a robotic prostatectomy. He has since performed hundreds of these procedures and travels nationally and internationally teaching the procedure to many urologic surgeons. Dr. Scherr has expanded his robotic practice in Manhattan to now include robotic-assisted removal of bladders with total bladder reconstructions. Dr. Scherr has published extensively in the areas of bladder and prostate cancer as well a wide variety of other urologic malignancies.

In addition to his clinical responsibilities, Dr. Scherr also has an active role in the Laboratory of Urologic Oncology. Dr. Scherr has been instrumental in defining the hormonal regulation of bladder cancer and is now developing a novel class of compounds that utilize the innate immune system to fight urologic tumors. From a technology front, Dr. Scherr is currently working on the development of a non-invasive means to assess human tissue at the microscopic level. To this end, he has patented and developed the concept of “multiphoton endoscopy,” which utilizes high speed laser energy to create high quality microscopic images of human tissue. This breakthrough has vast applications in cystoscopy, colonoscopy and bronchoscopy among others. Dr. Scherr is collaborating with engineers and physicists at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York on this project.

Dr. Scherr sits on several advisory boards in companies involved in urologic technology development. In particular, Dr. Scherr has been influential in the ergonomics of robotic technology. In addition, he has been quite active in the development of optical coherence tomography and its application to urologic imaging. Dr. Scherr collaborates with many scientists within the Weill Cornell community and is currently evaluating the role of adipose inflammation and cancer as well as the functional role of the intestinal microbiome and prostate cancer. Dr. Scherr is married with three children and resides in Westchester, NY.

Testimonials:

"Dr Scherr is a fantastic Doctor. Made me feel I was in expert hands from start to finish during my surgery" - Bob G. via Google

"Great Doctor, Great Service." - Florence A. via Healthgrades on May 15, 2021

"Dr. Scherr is absolutely excellent. He has taken care of my father in the past and is doing so again right now. He is beyond brilliant. He has an incredible bedside manner and always puts you at ease. Most importantly, he is very, very thorough and detail-oriented. The best way to describe Dr. Scherr is World-Class. We are so grateful and thankful for all that he does for us and for helping save my dad's life in the past. We owe him so much we can't even put it into words." - Rob B. via Google

"The most knowledgeable and kind urologist my Mom and I met at NYP-Weill Cornell. He is very thorough and gave us peace of mind during the entire process. Would highly recommend." - Archana M. via Google

"One of the best. I have been a patient of Dr. Scherr for almost 2 years. His office is extremely organized, the staff is friendly, his appointments go on time, he is super experienced in bladder cancer and treatments and he always orders any tests when necessary. I am a bladder cancer survivor and require periodic surveillance. When I go in for my scheduled surveillance cystoscopies, any blood work and lab tests are done right there in the office lab, I go in to the exam room and am quickly prepped, then Dr. Scherr comes in and does the cystoscopy using the latest equipment. There is no discomfort and the exam is done quickly. I feel that my health is in excellent hands. Thank you, Dr. Scherr and staff." - via Vitals on APril 17, 2018

"The best. I am so great full to have had him as my surgeon. He performed byo bladder surgery and I have to say I am 100% back to my old self." - Caroline G. via Healthgrades on November 22, 2017

"I feel very fortunate to have found Dr Scherr when I did (late 2013). It was easy to entrust my situation to him. He was supportive and straight forward as he clearly laid out my options in layman's terms. I do not believe I could have been in better hands."

"The best of the best, with great bed side manner. His staff is outstanding and complements Dr. Scherr." - Robert S.

"Dr Scherr made room for me in his schedule for an operation that couldn't wait. He is quiet gifted surgeon who I feel blessed to have been led to. He was confident and put us at ease" - James C.